Grab a slice of Japan with Zuma
Originally founded in Knightsbridge, London, Zuma is an izakaya-inspired Japanese restaurant adored for its beautifully plated dishes peppered with tons of flavours. From the main kitchen to the sushi counter and the robata grill, Zuma’s menu is dominated by fresh seafood, sashimi, makis, sushi and more. Any self-respecting gourmand would know to dine here when they come across it—it’s a basic instinct to scour for Zuma when you’re in London or anywhere that has it. The bevvy of options here is what established its own repertoire and has now become an unspoken part of any gourmand’s checklist.
In this month’s edition of BAZAAR Tries, the BAZAAR team headed to Zuma Abu Dhabi for a delightful lunch taste-testing fan-favourite dishes.
What’s on the menu at Zuma Abu Dhabi:
When dining here, the cult-famous cold dishes might spring to mind first—for its Chu Toro No Oasashimi Kousou Fuumi, aka a thinly sliced chu toro tuna topped with chilli, coriander and sesame. Then, there is the grandiose sliced yellowtail with green chilli relish, ponzu and pickled garlic, each exuding a burst of flavour sure to please all senses.
This is also a place where you’ll find made-to-order sushi, in line with the season’s freshest catch. Atop pillowy white rice, lies the tender slab of fish—from the fattiest to leanest— o toro, chu toro and akami, all of which have a different profile with every bit. The menu will also grant you exquisite seasonal produce and best-loved fillets as makis such as spicy tuna maki with chilli miso and yuzu tobiko and spicy hamachi with tenkasu and tobiko. If you’ve ever wanted to see a masterful sushi chef at work—the way he slices different types of fish with exacting precision before he gracefully lumps the glistening strip of seafood on rice, then this is the place.The sushi selection here will surely melt in your mouth like butter.
With black cod as the undisputed star of the meal, the restaurant abides by an exuberant recipe of the fish being marinated with miso and wrapped in hoba leaf. The roasted lobster with shiso ponzu butter and grilled chicken wings with sea salt and lime is also a rite of passage for anyone seeking out grilled dishes. The complexities of the dishes’ unorthodox taste will definitely leave a memorable impression.
Home to another breadth of gastronomical wonders, expect to relish in other punchy dishes including crispy fried squid with green chilli and lime and Japanese sweetcorn with shiso butter—all of which are a must-eat. Even those with sweet tooths will enjoy Zuma—it’s not all savoury delights here. The desserts are just as enticing, because of its baked cheesecake dessert that’s slathered with raspberries, and cashew crumble and topped with guava sorbet.
Discover more about Zuma’s menu here.
